Locking device.



W. H. GREENLEAF.

LOCKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 16. 1916.

Patent ed Nov. 12, 1918.

WILLIAM H. GBEEN'LEAF, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

' LocKm'e DEVICE.

naeaseo.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

application, filed October 16, 1916. Serial No. 125,938.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. GREEN- LEAF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford andState of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Looking Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to locking-devlces, the purpose of the invention being to provide an article of. this character which is susceptible of .inexpensive manufacture, which can be readily and quickly applied and which will securely and substantially hold an object to a support, even Where such an object is subjected to shocks, ars and vibration. The locking device is obv ously capable of general use. It is of particular utility, however, when employed for bolding a clock to the dash of an automobile.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification I have shown in detail one convenient form of embodiment of the invention which will be set forth fully in the following descrlption. I do not restrict myself to this particular disclosure; I may depart therefrom in several respects within the scope of the lnvention defined by the claims following said description.

Referring to said. drawings:

Figure l is a top plan View of a clock and locking means associated therewith for holding the clock to the dash represented in section in said view.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of a locking ring, the clock being shown by dotted lines and the ring being shown just after it has been applied.

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the arts shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the locking-ring set.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the ring.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of a portion of the clock case, dash, bezel ring and crystal.

Fig. 7 is a detail view in section on the line 77 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 8 is a detail view in elevation of part of the dash.

Like characters refer to like parts throughoutthe several views, which are on v different scales.

or keyways 3 functioning as hereinafter set forth, extend. The clock movement is not shown. I do illustrate, however, a setting arbor 4 and a binding post 5 from which the connector 6 leads. The invention, however, does not concern these features, and I mention them merely because they are shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The case.

2 has at its front or open side the annular flange 7 adapted to fit flatwise against the inner surface of the dash. This flange is integral with the part 2, and I find that I can secure a very inexpensive construction by molding them in dies. Associated with the flange 7 is a bezel ring 8, forward of which is the crystal 9.

To hold the clock in proper relation with the dash and to perform asimilar function with any other suitable part and its sup-' porting structure, a locking ing as 10 is provided. This locking ring as shown consists of oppositely disposed helical or flat coiled portions 11 and 12 connected at their terminals by necks 18 and 14, the whole being in one piece. This ring 10 is preferably made of resilient material such as sheet metal which can be cut from suitable stock and afterward shaped up with the aid of proper dies. The ring 10 interiorly thereof has slots 15 and 16, these slots or notches being for the reception of fins as 17 and 18 external of the cylindrical part and approximately opposite each other. The fins 17 and 18 are parallel with the axis of the case 2. The diametrically opposite fins 17 and 18 are slotted as at 19 at diflerent portions in their length, the slots of the respective fins being approximately opposite. The front walls of t e slot 19 are at right angles to the axis of thecase 2, while the rear walls are at acute angles to the front,

and 12 of the locking ring. so as to present detent teeth 20 of rather sharp type. Said fins 17 and 18- fit the keyways or slots 3" to prevent the case 2 from turning; said fins therefore act as keys. By slotting the fins or keys I provide on said case two series of longitudinally separated locking lugs.

In mounting an article such as the clock, the cylindrical portion 2 will be passed through its opening 3', the case being held against turning-in the manner set forth. The ring 10 will now be applied, and this may be accomplished as follows: The center of the ring will be brought into coincidence with the axis of the case 2 and the ring will be turned if necessary so as to bring the slots or notches 15 and 16 into register with the fins 17 and 18 as shown in Fig. 3. The ring will then be slipped along the fins until it is brought into register with the appropriate diametrically opposite slots 19, the particular slots being determined by the thickness of the dash 3. In Fig. 1 the ring.

has been introduced into the two intermediate slots. After the two portions of the ring have been entered into these slots, the ring will be turned in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3. The front faces of the two portions of the ring as the latter is turned ride against the front face of the dash or equivalent support so that as the ring is turned, the two portions will be jammed or wedged solidly againstthe rear beveled walls of the slots 19, the ring bending if it be resilient, which is the preferable con struction. This action will be continued until the ring can be turned no farther. To take off the ring the procedure outlined will be exactly reversed.

In some cases I can rely merely upon the resilience of the ring or the wedge-shaped locking action, to prevent retractive movement of said ring. I prefer, however, to provide more positive means for this purpose, and the teeth or acute detent portions 20 to which I have referred play an oflice in this particular. It. will be noticed that the ring 10 has on its opposite portions cuts or kerfs 21 which can be easily formed therein to produce a ratchet surface, and these are adapted to be successively entered by the biting or detent teeth 20 as the ring is turned home. hen the ring is properly set, the two teeth 20 will fit diametrically opposite tooth spaces 21 to positively and efiectually prevent backward rotation of the locking ring. To free the ring, the ring will be flexed or sprung sufficiently to carry the two tooth spaces 21 free of the -teeth 20. When this is done the ring can be rotated backward in a ready, easy manner. The offset connecting portions 13 and 14 which unite the two helical operative parts 11 and 12 present a. very convenient means for manipulating the ring during its application and removal.

It will be clear that the locking ring 10 as it is turned yieldingly engages the dash or equivalent support as 3. As a consequence the object sustained by the dash is drawn against the dash by a thrust applied thereto in a direction parallel to the axis 'of rotation of the ring, the locking effect or thrust being in fact' a wedge one. It will be understood that the locking ring 10 or analogous part can be applied or mounted or detached without completelyrotating it. I also depend upoii a spring or Wedging effect and do not bite the periphery or circumference of the object, which as already noted, is a clock. The Wedging effect is in the present case applied laterally of the locking ring. It is also of advantage to provide circumferential lugs which are se cured by slotting the opposite fins 17 and 18. In view of the lateral engagement of the locking ring with the clock and its support or equivalent parts, there is no possibility of the locking ring being crushed or distorted, which is an important point. These fins l7 and 18 divided into lugs as I have already stated, prevent positively the object from turning, acting as keys. The circumferential lugs or teeth,- made by dividing the fins also engage a roughened surface of the locking ring, in view of which circumstance, it is practically-impossible for the latter to accidentally turn backward.

What I claim is:

1. A. locking ring comprising resilient helical portions and connecting portions uniting the terminals of the helical portions and extending laterally therefrom.

2. A resilient locking ring having two opposite connected helical portions, one of the lateral surfaces of the helical part of the ring being-roughened.

3. A resilient locking ring having two opposite connected helical portions, and also having ratchet teeth on one of its surfaces.

4:. A resilient locking ring comprising oppositely disposed helical portions and connecting portions uniting the terminals of the helical portions, the locking ring being l fierfed on one side to present a locking surace.

5. A resilientlocking ring comprising oppositely disposed helical portions and connecting portions uniting the terminals of the helical portions, said ring being kerfed on one side to produce a multiplicity of ratchet teeth and also being oppositelyslotted on its inner side adjacent the connecting portions. 6. The combination. of a support, an object removably carried by said support, and a locking ring to surround said object and port as said locking ring is turned around saidobject, the latter having means to prevent positively backward accidental movement of the locking ring.

7. The combination of an object having external fins, the fins being slotted at difierent points in their length, and the slots of the respective fins being approximately opposite, and a resilient locking ring turnable upon the object between diametrically opposite slots, the fin portion of the object and the ring being interlocked to prevent accidental backward turning movement of the ring.

8. The combination of an object having external fins, said fins being slotted at dif- :terent points in their length and the slots of the respective fins being approximately opposite, and a resilient locking ring turnable upon the object between diametrically opposite slots, the rear walls of the slots being beveled to produce detent teeth and the adjacent surface of the locking ring being ratcheted to cooperate with the respective teeth.

9. The combination of an object, and a locking ring to turn on said object, the locking ring as it is turned yieldingly engaging the support of the object and applymg a wedging efl'ect to boththe object and the support in a direction parallel to the axis of turning movement of the ring to draw a part of the object against the support, the object having means engaging the ring to prevent positively accidental backward movement of the ring.

10. A locking ring comprising resilient helical portions inclined, oppositely to each other, and connecting'portions uniting the terminals of the helical portions and extending laterally from the ends of said helical portions.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. GREEN LEAF.

Witnesses:

L. L. MARKEL, Hmrn SUTHERLAND. 

